New Openings: Jody’s Deli

At last, another option for smoked meat has arrived in Mississauga!

Jody’s Deli is a family run business named after the founder, Jody Kerimovski who is also the creator of the signature blends used in the meats. The meats are prepared by a boutique butcher located in Montreal using Jody’s signature recipes and brought in weekly.

You can find a variety of classic deli sandwiches including smoked meat (pepper crusted and smoked for 16 hours), corned beef (slow cooked in a mild spice brine), slow roasted beef, smoked turkey (white breast meat smoked for 8 hours) and a variety of daily house-made sides.  It’s a modern take on an old school deli concept built on years of experience in the Montreal food scene.

The Kerimovski family immigrated to Montreal from Albania then moved to Toronto and opened up their first location which has a 15 year history in the Toronto Beaches. The second location in Scarborough has been open for four years and their third location recently opened in the Dixie and Eglinton area of Mississauga. It’s quite hidden in a plaza that’s still partially under construction so it’s easy to miss.

Brian Kerimovski, Jody’s son was born into the food scene by default and has been the leading the expansion of their brand. The Mississauga location has approximately 30 seats and is the largest of their three locations, “it’s my biggest project to date”, says Brian. He targeted Mississauga for their third location first and foremost because he likes the city (he’s moving his family from the East end of Toronto to Sauga) and “because it’s a more commercially developed city with a lot of industrial activity and home to a number of business head quarters”.

What’s unique? “It’s all about the meat!” is the business tagline and Brian explains that freshness is key, nothing is frozen and they don’t use any fillers. “We are a lean, mean deli machine”, says Brian and they use lean cuts of 100% triple A whole beef brisket and 100% triple A whole turkey breast. The sandwiches are ½ pounders and sliced to order. 

Signature Dish: The classic smoked meat served with mustard takes the lead in their most popular dishes. The pepper crusted meat is smoked for 16 hours and although the meat is a lean cut, it’s extremely tender and juicy and it melts in your mouth.

Classic Smoked Meat

Food Menu: The daily freshly baked bread (light, dark and marble rye) is from Silverstein’s – a Toronto based bakery since 1918. They use real cheese (Swiss and cheddar) and the salads are made in-house daily. Yukon gold potatoes are freshly cut for their fries and poutine which has real Quebec cheese curds – the real deal! They use Mrs. Whyte’s (a popular Quebec brand) kosher dill and hot cherry peppers and Nance’s creamy mustard – another popular deli condiment. 

In addition to the classic deli sandwiches, you’ll also find sandwiches such as Montreal meets NY (grilled New York pastrami, smoked meat, Swiss, sautéed peppers, onion, mayo), Pitts Burgher (corned beef or roast beef topped with fries, tangy coleslaw, Swiss, tomato, Russian dressing), Philly (grilled roast beef, cheddar, sautéed peppers, onions, mushrooms and mayo), California (grilled turkey, Swiss, avocado slices, tomato, sautéed onion, mayo) and more.

The house-made daily salads include coleslaw, potato and macaroni. You will also find a selection of standard canned pop including Cott black cherry pop and Vernors ginger soda – typical smoked meat/pop pairing.

I tried the original reuben (grilled corned beef, hot sauerkraut, Swiss and Russian dressing) and it’s a juicy, tender warm sandwich that’s grilled to order. You’ll need a couple of napkins for this one!

What’s Up and Coming? Possibly a liquor license and breakfast menu. A centrally located commissary where they will smoke and prepare the meats (they had originally prepared their meats prior to the expansion). Change in hours, possibly opening seven days a week soon.

Seats: 30

Licensed: No

Type of Restaurant: Quick service 
 

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1. Jody’s Deli